Two Brand-New Ships Coming to Port Canaveral in 2027: Over 20 Ships Open for Booking

Central Florida cruisers have a couple of new shiny toys to look forward to next year. May and November will both see a new mega ship pulling into Port Canaveral, but over 20 other ships will be offering travelers a vacation at sea as well.

Port Canaveral holds the title of “world’s busiest cruise port” based on 2025 numbers, and it plans to keep the pedal to the medal in terms of cruise ship offerings going forward.

The port is expecting to homeport 23 ships (with a few others offering seasonal sailings) and accommodate more than 10.9 million passenger movements in 2027.

But the biggest headlines for next year focus on two brand-new mega ships making their big debuts: Carnival Festivale and MSC World Atlantic.

Just a couple of weeks ago Cruise Fever wrote about PortMiami’s new vessels coming in 2027. This time, we’re looking at Port Canaveral’s lineup.

Here’s a closer look at the two new ships, and also a list of the other ships you can book out of Port Canaveral in 2027.

The 2 Brand-New Ships Debuting in 2027

Carnival Festivale (Debut: May 2027)

Carnival Cruise Line is bringing its fourth Excel-class ship directly to Port Canaveral. The LNG-powered vessel will join sister ship Mardi Gras and carry more than 5,300 guests at double capacity and 6,400 passengers at full capacity.

A Few Features:

• Sunsation Point & WaterWorks Ultra: Replaces the BOLT coaster with a massive three-deck outdoor zone. Cruise Fever reported on Carnival Festivale’s 6 waterslides in WaterWorks Ultra, which includes two family raft rides and nighttime park operations.
• Music-Inspired Design: Public spaces center around music, featuring new venues like “The Spark” live performance lounge and Mix Bar, where guests build drinks at a turntable-style bar.
• New Dining: Introduces Hawaiian and Asian flavors at “Uku Lei Lei” alongside popular regular dining venues Carnival cruisers will recognize like Guy’s Pig & Anchor and Shaq’s Big Chicken.
• 1,000 Connecting Rooms: Offers 70% more interconnecting staterooms than earlier Excel-class ships to fit big families.

Itineraries: Mostly 6- and 8-day Eastern and Southern Caribbean sailings. Expect regular calls at Carnival’s Celebration Key along with ports like Amber Cove, San Juan, and the ABC Islands.

MSC World Atlantic (Debut: November 2027)

MSC Cruises is doubling down at the port with its fourth World Class ship that just touched water for the first time. At about 215,000 gross tons, this is a true mega-ship. Port Canaveral is completing a $95 million expansion of Terminal 10 in time for her arrival.

World Atlantic’s Features:

• The Cliffhanger Swing: Features Cliffhanger, the only overwater swing ride at sea, which dangles passengers 160 feet above the ocean.
• The Harbour District: A dedicated outdoor family park complete with a high ropes course, sensory splash areas, and a 11-deck dry slide.
• The Clubhouse: An indoor fun zone featuring bumper cars, roller skating, pickleball courts, and a retro soda pop bar.
• Largest MSC Yacht Club: Includes an expanded ship-within-a-ship VIP enclave with private sundecks, dedicated lounges, and 24/7 butler service.

Itineraries: Alternating 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean runs. Every sailing includes a call at MSC’s private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

Main Cruise Ships Booking Out of Port Canaveral in 2027

Port Canaveral will host ships from at least seven different cruise lines. Here’s the full lineup of ships with sailings available for booking in 2027 (some are year-round, others seasonal or partial-year):

Carnival Cruise Line

• Carnival Festivale (brand-new, from May)
• Mardi Gras
• Carnival Vista
• Carnival Glory
• Carnival Freedom
• Carnival Venezia (seasonal through roughly May)

Royal Caribbean

• Star of the Seas
• Utopia of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Adventure of the Seas
• Explorer of the Seas (seasonal early 2027)

MSC Cruises

• MSC World Atlantic (brand-new, from November)
• MSC Grandiosa
• MSC Seashore

Disney Cruise Line

• Disney Wish
• Disney Treasure
• Disney Destiny (arriving late 2027 from Fort Lauderdale)
• Disney Fantasy
• Disney Dream (partial year)

Norwegian Cruise Line

• Norwegian Epic
• Norwegian Getaway
• Norwegian Aqua
• Norwegian Escape
• Norwegian Breakaway (arrives in November 2027)

Celebrity Cruises

• Celebrity Apex (seaonsal)

Princess Cruises

• Star Princess (arrives in October 2027)

Between the two brand-new mega-ships and the rest of the mainstays in Port Canaveral, 2027 is shaping up to be another record year for the port

Reservations are open across the entire 2027 fleet, with additional sailings dropping on cruise line schedules throughout the year.